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For the sixth
consecutive year, Blancpain presents a limited-edition wristwatch equipped with
the Traditional Chinese Calendar in tribute to this age-old culture. A
horological complication exclusively developed by the Manufacture in Le
Brassus, the Traditional Chinese Calendar is housed in a platinum case, while
the movement’s oscillating weight is engraved with the symbol of the current
lunar year. In 2018, the sign of the dog is thus highlighted on the back of
this model.

The Traditional
Chinese Calendar watch by Blancpain is based on fundamental principles
established for millennia and profoundly rooted in Chinese tradition. On its
fascinating dial, the hours, minutes and the Gregorian calendar rub shoulders
with the main indications of the Chinese calendar: traditional double-hour
indication, day, month with indication of leap months, signs of the zodiac, as
well as the five elements and the 10 celestial stems. The combination of the
latter with the 12 animals of the zodiac that represent the terrestrial
branches follows the sixty-year cycle that is central to Chinese culture. The
moon phases, a key element in Blancpain complete calendars, are also presented
and play a particularly important role in this model, given the link between
the lunar cycle and traditional Chinese months.

Contrary to the
Gregorian solar calendar which uses the solar day as the base unit, the
traditional Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, meaning a solar calendar
with the lunar cycle (29.53059 days) as its base unit. Since a year comprising
12 lunar months (354.36707 days) is approximately 11 days too short compared
with the tropical or solar year (365.242374 days), a leap month is sometimes
added to preserve the match with the cycle of the seasons. Given that each
month of the Chinese calendar, including the leap months, begins on the day of
the new moon, its length is either 29 or 30 days. This means that when a year
comprises a leap month, this 13-month year will be longer than the tropical year.
On the contrary, when there is no leap month, the year of 12 lunar months is
shorter than the tropical year. This distinctive feature is the reason behind
the variable date of the Chinese New Year.

The self-winding
caliber 3638 powering this watch is endowed with a 7-day power reserve, despite
the presence of 464 parts including 36 jewels. Its complexity stems as much
from the number of indications to be displayed as from the irregular nature of
their cycles.

Blancpain Caliber 3638

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The hours, minutes
and the Gregorian calendar are presented in the center. The counter at 12
o’clock indicates the double-hour numerals and symbols (24-hour cycle); while
the one at 3 o’clock shows the elements and the celestial stems (10-year
cycle). The month of the Chinese calendar (12-month cycle), its date (30-day
cycle) and the leap month indicator appear at 9 o’clock, while the 12 o’clock
aperture reveals the zodiac sign of the year in progress (12-year cycle) –
corresponding to the dog in 2018. Meanwhile, the moon phases are displayed at 6
o’clock.

The 45 mm-diameter
platinum case is fitted with a crown adorned with a cabochon-cut ruby and
comprises five integrated under-lug correctors serving to adjust the
indications. It features the classic signature attributes of the Villeret
collection: its double-stepped shape; a grand feu enamel dial with a chapter
ring composed of gold appliques, and indications transferred before the firing
process, the main hands shaped like slightly hollowed leaves; and the blued steel
Gregorian date pointer appearing in the traditional serpentine form. This
50-piece limited-edition watch is equipped with a white gold oscillating
weight, engraved with a dog.

The Traditional
Chinese Calendar model is also available in a non-limited version with a red
gold case.

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